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Hunters express doubts on dead birds find

A CABS member holding a dead night heron in the Miżieb woodland. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

A CABS member holding a dead night heron in the Miżieb woodland. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

The hunters’ federation expressed reservations about Monday’s joint BirdLife-CABS bird finds, saying “these people would create seriously doubtful situations against hunting and trapping”.

The Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FKNK) said Monday’s incident, when BirdLife Malta and the Committee Against Bird Slaughter said they found about 80 dead protected birds in the Miżieb woodland was to be expected because CABS would do its utmost to give rise to such incidents in the hope it would attract public sympathy.

FKNK said it knew such circumstances would arise and, weeks prior to the BirdLife-CABS raptor camp, had alerted the authorities and was prepared to pay for a police officer on extra duty to accompany them.

“These warnings must have fallen on deaf ears,” it said, adding that, as a result, CABS “coincidentally” found birds when none of the 200 dogs belonging to hunters who frequented the area had been able to pick up.

FKNK remained mum on the alleged assault on two CABS members just before a press conference on Monday. A council member of FKNK has been arraigned over the incident.

The raptor camp has recorded protected birds being illegally targeted during the night after hundreds of raptors and a flock of 22 spoonbills, among other protected species, flew into Malta to roost.

“The 22 spoonbills roosted close to the Salina bird sanctuary, a known hotspot of illegal hunting and trapping activity,” BirdLife said. It said nine of the spoonbills flew in a south-westerly direction to leave Malta and three, which had visible gunshot injuries, remained in Salina with another two birds. The fate of the remaining spoonbills was unknown, BirdLife added.

A team on a night watch at one of the larger roosts in Girgenti heard some 26 shots during the night and reported the incidents to the police, BirdLife said. “The targeting of protected birds during the night invariably takes place every time rare species roost in the islands,” its conservation manager, Andrè Raine said. “This is a clear indication of just how ridiculous the illegal hunting situation is and it is about time the government accepts the situation for what it is: a serious international conservation problem,” he continued.

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Johnny Xerri

Sep 23rd 2010, 21:54

Only a few days ago I questioned the fairness and legality of secreat filming.

Since warnings are issued for joyriders (not motorists) and thieves (not people) when speed cameras and CCTVs are in place, why is a criminal poacher threated differently?

I commented that if we really believe that the law knows no faces and that we are all equal in front of the law...then how is a section of criminals adviced about cameras whilst another section is sectretly filmed.

By the way, I do not believe that poachers should be warned since it would defy the scope....but niether believe that joyriders and thieves should be warned. I aslo believe in equal rights and if joyriders and thieves are warned..then so should poachers.

Unless of course we are more interested in filming a dead bird rather than filming from a visible position so that the bird is spared.

Only last spring, BLM filmed a man for a few minutes as he stalked a wader, slowly walking in its direction, shooting 3 shots and escaping. When instead of filming they could have simply stood out of cover and the poacher would have escaped...thus saving the bird

J. Borg

Sep 23rd 2010, 18:49

Pray...tell us...WHO KILLED them?

German hunters maybe?? or the Chinese and they been imported from there??

Science tells us we see with our brians... however sometimes neither brians nor eyes seem to be enough for some!

m.anastasi

Sep 23rd 2010, 12:27

80 birds being buried by CABS in the hunter's own back yard & not one saw anything!

M. Cardona

Sep 23rd 2010, 13:21

Mr BJ Simmons,

the turtle dove is on the decline in the UK for a number of reasons, hunting not being one of them since the bird is protected under UK legislation. BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) had carried a study of the decline in the UK and modern farming practices like reduced stubble and pastures during the peak of rearing season due to modern farming techniques, reduced hedgegrows (EU farming policies to blame) reduced breeding season, had been identified as the main factors for the decline.

However, instead of addressing these issues, the report had suggested to use this species as a launching pad for a campaign against hunting of migratory birds.

Finally you may argue that if we hunt these turtle doves on their migration then we cause a decrease of their breeding population. May I ask you whether we hunt the other farm birds (which happen to be resident and non-migratory) also in sharp decline in the UK as identified by other studies by the BTO??? Ironically, whilst BTO identified the primary reasons for the decline, they opted to address a completely different issue!

joseph lia

Sep 23rd 2010, 14:29

Dear Mr Simmons
Reply to your question, ask CABS personnel from where those protected birds came from, they have ALL the answers, just think, CABS continuously monitor the Mizieb hunting reserve (and I mean continuously!!!), therefore most if not ALL of those alleged illegalities should be monitored, caught on tape, right? Therefore CABS & Co should have AT LEAST, what..., 80 videos of these alleged shootings?Right? Such powerful equipment and vigilance, most if not all should be on tape, there must be at least 30 or 40 tapes and footage of these protected species falling into the Mizieb area, just one video recorder should suffice to record these killings, just sit tight overlooking Mizieb from Mellieha and the proof must be 'in the bag'!, right?, by the way things are improving in Malta, believe me , check out the RSPB website....over 350 illegal killings of protected species in 2009 alone!!! And yes in the UK! Guess they don't publicize such barbaric things over there, ONLY IN MALTA.

Jason Borg

Sep 23rd 2010, 22:42

Saqsi lill-pubbliku Sur Camilleri ħa jgħidulek min hu l-buffu!

joseph lia

Sep 23rd 2010, 14:16

Dear Mr Casha, normally I do not even consider replying to these fanatical outbursts from antis like yourself but commenting on things that are absolutely not true begs me to reply.
The council member in question you are implying to was discharged unconditionally by the court in the alleged case you are mentioning, secondly the most recent case at Mizieb is (as you should know) still sub-judice so no further comments there please, so as to respect our judicial system.
Poaching is a serious crime and unfortunately carried out worldwide least of all in our Maltese Islands, and YES to be condemned, check out the RSPB website and carefully read the statistical update for last year (2009), an absolute disaster in that over 350 illegal shooting/poisoning of protected species was recorded....YES in the UK! Indeed two wrongs do not make a right, agreed, but why don't these high and mighty Brits clean out their patch of ground first or is it that the UK has strong ties in the EU? Check out Germany's poaching statistics while youre at it, you will be amazed, drop a few lines there to condemn these vile acts too!

M. Cardona

Sep 23rd 2010, 13:52

Mr C Finch ( or whatever other bird species of your choice)

You may wish to note that on the FHC online forum, there are people who aren't hunters, are not registered with FHC, don't hold a licence to keep or carry a firearm (possibly from the anti-hunting camp) and yet pose as hunters "bragging about shooting protected species"!

"is not a member of the FKNK and does not hold a hunting and/or trapping licence"

quote from

http://forum.huntinginmalta.org.mt//YaBB.pl?num=1284654891

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